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Saturday, 17 August 2013

Between the Presidency and Chief Bisi Akande, By Sunday Dare

The statement issued by Reuben Abati the official spokesperson for the
presidency on 11th of August 2013 criticizing the interim chairman of
the APC for describing the Jonathan government as a “kindergarten presidency”,
is paltry, whining and falls in the category of world class political
tantrums.

In a most predictable fashion, the rabid nature of the reaction confirms
the truth that Nigeria is being run by little minds and irritants. This kind of
rascally mindset displayed by the minders of the Presidency continues to
contribute greatly to the unraveling of a government spinning out of
control.

Those of us opportune to have read the statement from the presidency now
realize the office of the spokesman has shifted from being the mouthpiece of
serious governance to that of the National Crybaby. Their statutory task, that
of serious governance, they did not address at all. They insist on telling us
what they should tell themselves.

Thus, their eagerness to assume the role of the country’s top complainant
is predictable. Instead of trying to minimize opposition criticism by providing
the nation with decent governance, their strategy is to complain that the
opposition complains too much. The performance of government, upon which the
great fate of the nation hangs, is immaterial to them. In fact, the nation and
its multitudes be damned as far as they are concerned. Afterall, the same
President on live television told Nigerians he does not give a Damn about some
of the things that affects them.

They claim that Chairman Akande disrespected the office of the presidency
with his remarks. In truth, Akande was merely exercising his democratic rights
to speak about the dire state of this government. Not only was he exercising his
democratic rights, he had a moral duty to criticize this government for it is
government in ruins, a stumbling, bumbling mash of self-seekers, opportunists
and the myopic.

What Akande said of them was mild compared to what the average person says
of this government on a daily basis. If the office of the presidency is to
respond to every harsh criticism levied at it, that office shall be a busy one.
It will have to issue 150 million press statements aimed at almost every
Nigerian, including half the members of the very inner circle of this very
government. Nigerians are now used to the countless insulting press statements
and reactions from the duo of Abati and Okupe.

They reacted so vehemently to the Akande statement for two reasons. First,
the truth hurts. Second, they are afraid of the APC and seek to intimidate it.
However, they might as well stop on the second point. With the fate of the
nation at stake, the incompetent will not be able to intimidate into silence the
committed.

Let us add two other important points. If they want people to honor the
office of the presidency, they should practice what they preach.

The people who most dishonor that office are those who currently occupy it.
The way this entire government goes about its job embarrasses and burdens the
nation. There is nothing important that they do right and nothing they somehow
accidentally get right that is important. They are the party and government of
partying and flashy public events. When it comes to policies for the people they
grow tired and disappear from view.

Thus, why must the people, who are the bosses in a democracy, respect the
elected public servant when it is clear that the person they elected does not
respect them? Wisdom says that what is good for the goose is also good for the
gander. In this instance, what the presidency feels is fair treatment of the
public, the public has every right say it is also fair treatment for the
presidency. Let the hired criers cry on. The average people are in their humble
homes crying. Those who cause their suffering might as well join in. When the
government starts implementing people oriented policies and tackle the problems
that confront us as a nation, then we will rejoice and the criticism will
cease.

Also, they need to understand the function of government. Those now in
charge of running government don’t even understand their role and proper limits.
They should return to school. The response to the Akande statement should not
have come from the presidency. Bisi Akande is the leader of an opposition
party, a partisan political figure. If they saw fit to reply, the response
should have come from the PDP’s over-exercised mouth.

Those who run the highest office of our national government do seem like
children who dropped and broke a glass then simply cry when someone points out
what they have done. Instead of crying, they should clean the mess they
made.

Until Reuben and the Presidency he fanatically seeks to defend accept they
owe Nigerians plenty of performance and explanation, they will continue to
languish in immaturity, self-delusion and hence rightly called a kindergarten
government. The same right my brother Reuben Abati exercised in telling Akande
off is what Akande also exercised in telling the President some bitter truth.
Akande has spoken for millions of Nigerians and it is well within his
right.

Mr. Sunday Dare, a former editor, is the current media Advisor to
APC chieftain, Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu